Weather Words: Cáju Rains

If you have never heard of the term Cáju Rains, don’t feel bad. They don’t occur in the U.S. and are very specific to a certain region in South America. If you have heard of them, pat yourself on the back, because I bet most people reading this haven’t.

Cáju Rains are translated to “Cashew Rains” and they occur primarily in Brazil and Guayana, where cashew crops are prevalent. These rains occur during the dry season and are quick and rather unpredictable passing showers.

Farmers welcome the rains in the region, because they occur during the dry season and are beneficial to the cashew crop. Locals have long believed that the Cáju Rains signal that the rainy season will arrive soon.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.